In this brand new expansion for Tavern Talk, young detective Melina accidentally sets loose a chaotic spirit trapped in a mysterious mechanism. Together with her friends, and Fable’s older brother Oleander, they must now race to fix the apparatus and stop the impending Primordial storm.
Developed by: Gentle Troll Entertainment
Played on: Steam
Length: 2 hours
A review key was provided by Future Friends.
Tavern Talk was one of my favourite visual novels last year, and returning to the Wayfarer’s Inn feels like a warm, cozy hug. Its story takes place after a significant timeskip, following young cat-detective Melina who accidentally unleashes a Primordial spirit after she breaks an ancient mechanism. As usual, our heroes are tasked with saving the world from an impending disaster, armed with nothing but their bravery and your drinks to bolster their spirits.
As someone who hasn’t touched the game in months, I appreciate having the option to jump straight into the DLC from the main menu; although you might need a refresher course on the characters’ names and the drink mixing mini game. Meant to be played after the main game, the DLC removes most of the basic drinks and leaves you with complex end-game recipes and infusions. Thankfully, there’s a tutorial at the beginning to remind you how everything works.
Soon enough, you’ll be prepared to step back into the shoes of our anonymous Innkeeper, ready to vicariously live through another adventure. The game from here on out feels familiar, in a good way. You’re still gathering information to create quests, mixing drinks for your patrons, and helping them go on life-changing adventures. For those hoping to see more of the main cast, unfortunately the DLC only features five or six original cast members with the majority of them being mentioned only in passing conversation.
In Tempest Tantrum, we trade out main characters Fable and the Rogue for Oleander Verifina, Fable’s long suffering and chronically overworked older brother. Oleander is probably one of my favourite additions to the cast in the entire game. His stick-in-the-mud disposition and lovably grumpy personality makes him a great comedic foil, or maybe I just have a weak spot for workaholic characters.
Still, with only two to three hours of playtime, both Oleander’s character arc and the DLC story as a whole comes away feeling underbaked. The same could be said about the other new additions to the DLC, such as the new drink recipe Ocean Fizz and new infusion Luminous Algae, which are both appreciated but ultimately underused in the grand scheme of things.
That being said, it’s hard to argue against a RM13.99 price tag, three new quests, and four unique endings. While I would have loved a longer experience, I’d happily wait for Gentle Troll Entertainment to cook up a longer story — and a higher price tag to match.
Verdict: A Fun Albeit Short Sequel
Tavern Talk was one of my favourite visual novels last year, and returning to the Wayfarer’s Inn feels like a warm, cozy hug. The DLC adds new character Oleander Verifina, a new drink recipe, and multiple endings wrapped up in a quick adventure with our favourite cat-detective Melina. Its two to three hour runtime barely quenches our thirst, and we already can’t wait for what Gentle Troll Entertainment will brew up next.
Wishlist Tavern Talk: Tempest Tantrum on Steam, and top up your Steam Wallet on Codashop for bonus rewards.
